Discharge electrode mounting device



Dec. 30, 1958 .1. PHYL DISCHARGE ELECTRODE MOUNTING DEVICE 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 26, 1956 INVENTOR JOSEPH PHYL Dec. 30, 1958 J.PHYL DISCHARGE ELECTRODE MOUNTING DEVICE s Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 26,1956 INVENTOR JOSEPH PHYL ATTORNEY Dec. 30, 1958 J. PHYL 2,866,517

DISCHARGE ELECTRODE MOUNTING DEVICE Filed NOV. 26, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR JOSEPH PHYL ATTORNEY States Patent DISCHARGE ELECTRUDE MOUNTINGDEVICE Application November 26, 1956, Serial No. 624,412

' l 6 Claims. ((31.183-7) The present invention relates generally toelectrical precipitators, and specifically to new and usefulimprovements in the mounting structures for discharge electrodesemployed in electrostatic precipitators.

In typical electrical precipitator constructions a plurality of hightension discharge electrode wires are normally mounted vertically infixed patterns relative to complementary, vertically disposed collectingelectrode plates. It is conventional, in such precipitators, to supportthe discharge electrodes by suspending them from their upper ends andcoupling their lower ends to tensionmg weights or frames.

In electrical precipitator operation dust and other precipitate collectson the discharge electrodes and is removed, for the purpose ofmaintaining precipitator efficiencies, by vibrating or rapping meanswhich cause flexing and vibration of the electrodes.

One form of discharge electrodes take the form of elongated flat ribbonsor bands of a conductive material and it has been discovered thatflexing and vibration of such ribbon type electrodes producessubstantial stresses which are normally concentrated along the edges ofthe ribbon or band. Great difiiculties have been experienced inprecipitator construction employing ribbon type electrodes in preventingrupture and breakage of these bands by stresses established throughvibration and flexing induced by cleaning apparatus. It has beenadditionally discovered that breakage and failure of ribbon typeelectrodes has for the most part been concentrated in the immediatevicinity of the upper and lower points of support of the electrodeswhere the supporting elements are coupled to the electrode.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide newand useful supporting structures for ribbon type electrodes utilized inelectrical precipitators which effectively and efficiently support theelectrodes under vertical tension within the precipitator apparatus yetwhich avoid and eliminate the establishment of stress concentration inthe electrode thereby reducing fatigue at the points of supportresulting in a substantial reduction in electrode failure and breakage.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improvedstructure for mounting and supporting discharge electrodes inprecipitator apparatus which substantially eliminates concentration ofstress fatigue in the electrode due to rapping vibration.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of new andunique mounting and supporting structures for discharge electrodes inprecipitator apparatus which provides for the positive tensional supportof a ribbon type electrode in such a manner as to prevent concentrationof stress at the points of support.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide novel and usefulstructures for supporting ribbon type electrodes within precipitatorapparatus through the use of which the electrodes may be quickly andeasily in- 2,866,517 Patented Dec. 30, 1958 stalled, removed andreplaced with a minimum requirement of time and labor.

It is another object of this invention to provide ribbon type electrodesupport structures of the type described which will effectively supportand retain electrodes within precipitator apparatus in such a mannerthat the rapping efficiencies are maintained at their maximum andwhereby the electrodes are maintained under tension at all times. l

Still a further object of this invention lies in the provision of newand useful mounting'and support structures for discharge electrodeswhich are of extremely simple and inexpensive design and manufacture andwhich Will afford a durable and long lasting construction.

Still other objects and advantages of this invention will become morereadily apparent to those skilled in the art when the followingdescription and disclosures are read in the light of the accompanyingdrawings.

The nature of the present invention may be stated in general terms asrelating to mounting and supporting structures for ribbon typeelectrodes in electrical precipitators including in combination with asupporting frame, spacer means of lesser transverse width than that ofthe electrode, and clamping means supported from said frame and engagingsaid spacer means and the electrode.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like referencesdesignate similar parts throughout the several v1ews:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation through a precipitator embodyingelectrode mounting structures constituting the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of one electrode including itssupporting structure;

.3 is a side elevation of the structure disclosed in Fig. 4 is anexploded view of the components of the electrode supporting structureshown in Figs. 2 and 3;

Fig.5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a modified formof the invention; at

6 is a side elevation of the structure disclosed in t Fig. 7 is anexploded view of the top ture disclosed in Figs. 5 and 6; and

Fig. 8 is a pictorial view of one of the clamping memgersdog the bottommounting structure disclosed in Figs.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings there is shown a typical electricalprecipitator construction, generally designated at 10, which includes ahousing or shell 12 having a hopper type bottom 14, a gas inlet 16 and aremotely spaced gas outlet 18. A plurality of collecting plateelectrodes 20 is supported within the shell intermediate the gas inletand outlet by top and bottom supportmg frames 22 and 24 respectively.The collecting plate electrodes 20 are arranged in parallel spacedrelationship mounting strucand in usual manner plural rows of dischargeelectrodes 26 are suspended vertically within the shell from a hightension frame 28 supported from an insulator 30 mounted in the'upper endof the shell. Each row of spaced discharge electrodes is arranged inparallel spaced relationship between adjacent collecting plateelectrodes to establish typical electrostatic fields for theseparationof (lllllSt particles and the like from gas passed through said s ell. t

In the precipitator structure disclosed electrically ,operated rappermembers 32 having insulating rapper rods 32a are supported in the upperregions of the shell for striking and vibrating the high tension frame28 which in turn transmits the vibration to the discharge electrodescausing rapid flexing or vibration of these electrodes for the removalof precipitated materials therefrom.

IHFigS; 2 through 4 of thedrawings, thereis-disclosed one embodiment ofthe electrode mounting means constituting the present invention by whichstructure the dis- "char-ge electrodes 26are suspended under verticaltension from the supporting frame 28 within the precipitator shell. Thedischarge electrodeg26 is shown in the form of an elongated ribborrtypeelectrode of a type commonly known in the precipitator art.

In this embodiment of the invention the strip or ribbon electrode isprovided ateach end thereof with an integrally =formed short loop'34.Associated with each looped end of the electrode is a stiffening orspacer member 36 which is of: substantially hairpin-like configurationhaving a pair of-elongated flat coextensive leg portions 38 intercon--nected at one end by aloopedhead portion40, the'inner diameter. ofwhich .is substantially equal to the outer diameter of theloop 34 on theelectrode end. The extended wfree endsof eachof the leg portions 38 ofthe spacer :members are-arcuately flared as at.42 outwardly inopposition to .one another as is best seen in Figs. 3 and 4.

In combination with spacer member 36 and electrode 26 =is1a rigidclamping .means which consists of a pair of clamping plates generallydesignated at 44, each of which -.cpnsists of an elongated plate-havingparallel ofliset web POI'IiOHSJS and 48 interconnected intermediate thelength of the plate by anangularly extending step portion 50.Thetwebportion 46 of each of the plates 44 is provided with .an .alignedcentral opening 52 adapted to receive flawbolt 54-therethrough. .The webportion .48 of each .of the plates isprovided with substantiallymarginally located transversely spaced bolt holes 56 which are aligned\bctweenthetwo plates .when assembled for clamping. lniasaemblingtheelectrode, clamping means and spacer member within the precipitator, thespacer member 36 ;,1is;' tele; scop e,d downwardly over the extreme endof the electrode to bring the loop head 40 of the spacer member cjutovengagement abouhthelooped end 34 of the electrode end to dispose the legportions 36 of the spacer member .longitudinallyofthe electrode witheach leg being dis- ;rposed on the longitudinal centerline of one oftheropposed ,;lectrode faces. leaving a marginal edge portion 58 on eachside of the electrode throughout the length of the 1 .spacer member.,The clamping plates are then assembled with the web portions 48 thereofengaged one with each of rtbeleg. portions of the spacer member 36 todispose the looped portions of the electrode and spacer member with-.;-in the area defined between the diverging angular step ,portions Soottheclamping plates. .When so assembled the spacer member 36 and theelectrode 26 will bedisposed centrally ofthe web portions 48 of theclamping plates to. permit bolts 60 to be inserted through the alignedBolt .holes 56 in the .two plates for .thereception of nutst 62 son. theprojected ends thereofgto rigidlyclamp the elec- ..trodeand..spacenmembergbetween the webs 48. of the .Piates. .When 1theelectrode rand spacer member have been clamped; by the web portions.48; of the plates the spacedweb portions 46 of lheplates are disposedupwardly one on'cither side of the frame 2 8,f rorn which they arelooselyg suspended by. the bolt 54 extending through the .bolt holes 52of the webportions 46 of the plates and an aligned bolt hole in theframe to permit limited movetnaent between the electrode support and theframe 28.

.The identical assembly of 1 electrode, spacer member and clamping meansis provided at the lower end. of the electrode.26, however, in place ofa supporting frame an eye bolt .64. or the like is engaged over thelower bolt 54 between the web portions 46 of the clamping plates, andthe eyeboltjs secured to a tensioning weight 66 (Fig. 1) onto anelectrode aligning means. e extreme ends of. the webportions 489i theclampg s, p a sare arc te y. flaredas at; 6 in oppositedirccnd th eg.Portions of the spa e m mber. pr j t l ng th length of theclcc ro beyo dt ecxtrernity of the clamping plates. By this construction .a rigidclamping point is avoided at the extreme ends of the clamping plates andat t-he extreme ends of the spacer trode longitudinally thereof and atthe same time provides for a rigid mounting clamp for the electrode. Ithas been found that by maintaining an uninterrupted stress flow pathalong the marginal edges of ribbon type electrodes the breakage andfatigue failure of electrodes is reduced to a substantial degree and theaforedescribed construction results in such an advantageousaccomplishment.

in Figs. 6 through 8 of the drawings, there is disclosed a modifiedembodiment of the present invention which serves to accomplish andattain all of the advantageous results obtained through. use of the formpreviously described but wherein certain structural details of theseveral components of themounting structure have been changed.

In this modified form of the invention which is utilized in conjunctionwith an electrode 26 of substantially identical construction to thathereinbefore described, a pair of clamping plates 70 are provided ontheir opposed faces with narrow elongated spacer strips 72 extendingalong the longitudinal centerline through the length of the plate andsecured thereto by welding or the like. The remote ends of plates 70 arearcuately bevelled or rolled outwardly .as at 74 and the ;strips72follow the arcuate surface of the plates. .Each of the plates 70 isprovided with a pair of marginal spaced bolt holes 76 and the remoteface of one of the plates carries the base end 78 of a hook rod 80 inrigid attachment thereto.

In assembly of this modified mounting means the spacer strip carryingfaces of the two plates 70 are disposed in engagement with the opposedflat faces of the electrode 26 immediately inwardly from the looped end34 thereof with the attached strips 72 thereon engaging the electrodeBolts 82 are then inserted through the complementary bolt holes 76intheclamping plates on either side of the electrode and spacer stripswhere theextended ends receive nuts 84 providing for the rigid clampingattachment of the plates ,to the,.electrode. When the electrode has beenrigidly clamped between the plates it is suspended within theprecipitator by insertion of the hook rod 80 through a hook receivingaperture .86 in one of the components of the supporting frame 28.

It isagain seen by this construction that free marginal .edgeportionsare provided along the length of the electrode onleither side ofthe spacer strips 72 within the clamping means to permit free stressflow along the electrodeedges and. at the same time the arcuate plateedges 74 eliminate a rigid flex line at the point of electrodeattachment Within the clamping means.

In Figs. .5, 6 and 8 a still further modified structure is shown forattaching the lower extremity of the electrode 26 to the tensioning oralignment means 66 wherein an assembly is provided including clampingplates 88 identical in form to plates 40 described with reference toFigs. 24 which are provided with strips 90 integrally secured thereto asstrips 72 were secured to plates 70.

From the foregoing-disclosures it is seen that new and usefulimprovements have been provided for electrode mounting assemblieswhereby specific new and useful results are obtained by the use of thedisclosed assemblies audit is further evident that thenovel assembliesdisclosed tion c p i ing in combination an elonga ribbon typ dischargeelectrode, rigid clamping means having opposed faces adapted to engageand retain one end of said electrode therebetween, said clamping meanshaving a width substantially greater than the width of said electrodeand spacer means interposed between the opposed faces of the clampingmeans and the electrode, the width of said spacer means being less thanthe width of the electrode interposed therebetween.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the spacer means compriseelongated plates secured to the opposed faces of the clamping means.

3. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the spacer means comprises asubstantially U-shaped member telescoped over the end of the electrode.

4. In an electrical precipitator an electrode construction comprising incombination an elongated ribbon type discharge electrode, a pair ofrigid clamping members adapted to retain opposite faces of saidelectrode therebetween, said clamping means having a width substantiallygreater than the width of said electrode, means for releasably securingsaid clamping members one to the other,

and spacer means interposed between the clamping surfaces of saidclamping membersand the opposite faces of the electrode, the width ofsaid spacer means being less than the width of the discharge electrode.

5. The invention defined in claim 4 wherein the spacer means comprisemetal strips secured to the inner faces of the clamping members.

6. The invention defined in claim 4 wherein the spacer means comprise asubstantially U-shaped member telescoped over the end of the electrode.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,711,224 Herber June 21, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 338,739 Great BritainNov. 27, 1930 1,084,937 France July 13, 1954

